Eldritch Horror Theatre

Theoretically, Fu Qian should have blown Goya's head off with an Air Bullet right then and neatly ended the mission.

But that was only in theory.

Everything that had happened so far proved that this was a special, meticulously designed test—perhaps even one orchestrated by the Anjing Company.

Faced with such an opportunity, Fu Qian didn't mind spending a little SAN Value to gather more valuable information.

Furthermore, during his conversation with Doctor Cynthia and the others just now, an interesting thought had crossed his mind.

These researchers had made considerable preparations for the possible appearance of "Patches."

Broadly speaking, wouldn't his current self count as an alternative kind of Patches?

It was this peculiar thought that fueled his desire to roleplay Patches to the absolute limit, using it to see the full scope of this elaborate setup.

"I'm glad we've reached a consensus, Mr. 'Patches'."

"What you need to do is very simple, but I need a few minutes to prepare."

"Of course, simple doesn't mean it isn't dangerous. But trust me, it's definitely better than being hunted by a Demigod."

"All right."

Meeting Goya's rather complicated gaze, Fu Qian nodded and sat back down.

"I want to request the use of the Guide of the Soul."

Cynthia clearly had no intention of accommodating her colleague's feelings and spoke directly to Goya.

"Fine!"

Goya's momentum was currently weak; he hesitated only briefly before agreeing.

'Guide of the Soul? Sounds like quite an incredible item!'

'Also, that name seems a bit familiar.'

Watching Cynthia leave the room, Fu Qian thought to himself, quickly realizing where he had seen that name before—the test records from earlier.

In the files detailing the various "Patches," more than one subject had crossed paths with this thing.

And if memory served, those interactions had never ended well.

...

Cynthia was highly efficient, returning just a few minutes later.

At the same time, she carried an object draped in black cloth.

'A mirror?'

Despite it being tightly covered, Fu Qian could roughly make out what it was from the exposed silhouette.

And without a doubt, it was a transcendent item.

"Its name is the Guide of the Soul. A mirror."

A guard trailing Cynthia brought over a simple little table and set it down in front of Fu Qian.

Cynthia set the object on the table, though she made no immediate move to lift the cloth.

"And its effect is that when you gaze at your own reflection inside for over five seconds, you will be able to converse with your inner self."

"Without a doubt, this will greatly help you understand yourself more clearly. That is where its name comes from."

"The side effect is that if you exceed five minutes, the 'you' in the mirror is highly likely to realize the conceptual difference between the two of you, and may engage in unpredictable behaviors."

As she explained, Cynthia kept a close eye on Fu Qian's reaction, seemingly looking for any sign of fear.

"My request is very simple. I hope you can undergo this process in front of me."

"Since you firmly believe you are Patches, I presume you won't object?"

"After all, it will help you further confirm what you believe in your heart, won't it?"

Gaining nothing, Doctor Cynthia wasn't disappointed; she beamed at Fu Qian.

"Additionally, you don't need to worry. No matter how you react, I will cover it back up before the five-minute time limit to help you terminate this exchange."

"So, what do you think?"

Finishing her introduction, Doctor Cynthia rested her hand on the upper edge of the mirror, staring unblinkingly at Fu Qian.

Her explanation was clear and concise, and she had considered things quite thoroughly. It was hard to think of a reason to refuse.

Of course, Fu Qian hadn't planned on refusing anyway.

Since he was seeking a thrill, he might as well follow through to the end.

Taking only a few seconds, Fu Qian nodded.

"No problem."

"Wonderful!"

Doctor Cynthia's smile grew even brighter; she was exceedingly satisfied with his response.

"I'm very glad you were able to make this choice. Many people become very hesitant when they reach this step."

Her hand swept over the mirror, slowly pulling the heavy black cloth aside.

"So much so that I have to make them realize a choice doesn't actually exist before they are willing to continue."

Amidst Cynthia's deceptively peaceful yet domineering remark, Fu Qian finally saw the true appearance of the Guide of the Soul.

It was an oval mirror bound in a gold frame and set into an exquisite base.

The overall design made Fu Qian think of a consecrated item he had once confiscated from a certain haunted house, though this one was much smaller.

Additionally, despite the dry air, the silver mirror surface seemed to be veiled by a layer of mist.

The moment it was fully exposed, Fu Qian noticed the mist surging across the surface, attempting to gather and flow according to some hidden rule.

However, under his gaze, this attempt ultimately ended in failure. The mist quickly fell back into chaos, continuing to churn across the mirror's surface.

...

It was working!

At this moment, everyone in the room, including Goya, consciously stood opposite Fu Qian, terrified of being reflected in the Guide of the Soul.

Even Doctor Cynthia stared at Fu Qian with absolute solemnity, refusing to miss a single detail.

A second later, Fu Qian's expression visibly tightened in her field of vision, so much so that his grotesque, torn-open smile looked starkly incongruous.

"What kind of joke is this!"

Half a minute later, he gritted his teeth and forced a low growl from his throat.

After the roar, Fu Qian fell silent for several seconds before his gaze quickly grew sharp again.

"Don't you dare try to bewitch me!"

Perfect!

Taking in Fu Qian's reaction, a smile reappeared on Cynthia's face; she seemed quite satisfied with this scene.

She had seen similar scenes play out more than once.

Those test subjects who called themselves Patches—no matter how perverse, malicious, and brimming with confidence they were at the start—would all, during this process, let her appreciate their gradual collapse.

Looking at it now, even the man in front of her had not escaped this.

Of course, as a tester, her principle was to record things truthfully and not have any bias.

But she had to admit, a scene like this was a feast for the eyes no matter how many times she watched it.

"Shut up!"

Right then, Fu Qian's furious roar echoed through the room. He shot to his feet and slammed his hand against the mirror.

Watching this scene with a faint smile, Cynthia finally could no longer remain indifferent.

The next moment, she took a step forward, preparing to remind Fu Qian not to do anything impulsive.

"Say it again! Who is the most handsome man in the world!"

But Fu Qian's next furious roar froze the smile right on her face.

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